Aintree link to man at centre of horse meat investigation

Racing has rebutted suggestions that horses who have died at Aintree have been
caught up in the horse-meat scandal following revelations that one of the
men being questioned, Peter Boddy, is contracted to remove carcasses at the
course.

Cause for concern: Aintree has stated that they are confident no racehorses can enter the food chain Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Boddy, whose slaughterhouse in Todmorden has been closed by the Food Standards Agency after an ­investigation found horse carcasses had been used to make beefburgers and kebabs sold in Britain, has been employed at Aintree and Haydock Park to transport and dispose of carcasses, but officials said they were confident that no racehorse could enter the food chain because of the safeguards that are in place.

There were two fatalities in the 2012 Grand National, Synchronised and According To Pete, but sources said neither would have been dealt with by Boddy. Synchronised was returned to trainer Jonjo O’Neill’s yard Jackdaws Castle and According To Pete was reportedly cremated.

All racecourses have a facility in place to collect and dispose of horses killed during a race. When injury or accident occurs, veterinary advice is followed, and if a horse is put down, the carcass is usually disposed of by track staff.

Nigel Payne, press officer for Aintree, said: “The racing industry takes every possible course of action to ensure that horses fatally injured on a racecourse cannot enter the food chain. Proactive, considered measures are in place, such as passport identification, backed up by a sticker on the passport, and close liaison with licensed disposal organisations.

“Aintree Racecourse follows these guidelines to the letter and can confirm that Peter Boddy is contracted by Aintree to remove carcasses if required .

“By the time these carcasses are returned to the disposal organisation’s premises they are totally unsuitable for consumption. They are likely to contain chemicals such as Bute, and are fully signed off as unsuitable. Indeed, it is illegal for horses humanely put down by injection on the racecourse to enter the food chain. We are as confident as we possibly can be that no unfit meat ever reaches the human food chain.

The British Horseracing Authority issued its own statement, which said: “The British racing industry is among the most strictly regulated of all equine activities and sports. This includes a range of checks and balances for horses after they leave the sport. Since 2000 every thoroughbred registered in Britain has had a microchip enabling each and every horse to be identified.”